Ch. 1: The Winter Solstice
I was originally going to wait until December to post this, but my muse was too insistent. And there is something special about the shortest day of the year. Maybe it's just me, but that feeling is where this story came from. So enjoy, everyone.
The first snow of winter occurred, fittingly enough, on the first day of winter, December 21st. The day before, a Friday, had been the last day of school for the public schools and now the children were free until the new year. And what better way for those children to celebrate than by playing in the deep snow for the whole day?
James was just as excited as the rest of his friends. Like all small children, the first snow day was important to him (even if there wasn't any school to be canceled). And today, the snow seemed extra special.
Perhaps it had to do with the date. Today was, as Mr. Grasshopper had explained to him, the winter solstice.
"Solstice?" James had asked as the two headed to breakfast together.
"Yes, James," Mr. Grasshopper had said. "Today is the first day of winter as well as the shortest day of the year. After tonight, the days start getting longer."
"They do?" Mr. Grasshopper chuckled, placing a hand affectionately on James's shoulder.
"It doesn't seem like it, I know. It takes a while to see the difference. But tonight, you'll be able to tell that the sun won't be out for very long. I believe night will start falling not long after 3:30."
"Really?" James had asked, amazed.
"Oh yes, my boy. And that's not all. I've heard it said that there is something magical about the night of the winter solstice. Keep yours eyes open; you may see something."
Now, slipping into his winter coat, James briefly wondered if he'd see anything out of the ordinary. However, thoughts of snowball fights, building snowmen and snow forts and running about with his friends quickly took over his young mind.
"Here you are, dear," Mrs. Ladybug said, draping a kitted scarf around the child's neck. "Goodness knows I can't have you catching a cold."
"Thanks, Mrs. Ladybug," James replied, smiling as the loving insect gently looped the knitted garment around his neck.
"You're most welcome, James," Mrs. Ladybug replied, drawing her little boy into a four-armed hug. "Have fun outside and feel free to stay out as long as you like."
"Really?"
"Oh, yes. There's something about the first snow of the year that seems to give you children boundless energy. So long as you and your friends stay close to the house, I see no problem with you all enjoying yourselves. Of course, I daresay that by the time it gets dark, you'll be ready to come back inside."
"Probably," James agreed. Mrs. Ladybug kissed his cheek.
"Have fun then!"
James darted outside, calling out greetings to his friends. The thick snow enveloped the children's legs, making it hard to run, but that didn't deter any of them. Instead, the group spent the whole day constructing an entire town of snow forts all the while ducking and dodging each other's snow balls. It wasn't until the light began to fade that James and his friends realized how exhausted they wore and all retired gratefully to their warm homes.
And though James didn't know it, he would soon see something very much out of the ordinary.
Something that could only occur on the night of the winter solstice.
